IMSB Seasonal Storage

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

No, it is a special shaft and triple row ceramic bearing assembly that can only be done while the engine is apart. The plain bearing "Solution" only comes in the single row bearing size, uses a pressurized oil feed off the filter out line and has no moving parts whatsoever, and can be retrofitted to an assembled engine.

so why do the former? does this special shaft prevent other types of failure?

[pjq]

Perfectlap at the time I didn't have the choice.
After my IMSB failed and I was faced with a rebuild it became questionable if my IMS was even re-useable. (finding a second hand IMS wasn't easy at the time, I didn't want porsche's new IMS) I sent it to LN Engineering and fortunately they were able to work with it and upgrade it to the triple row and pin the sprockets to the shaft. At the end of the day I still have bearings, not sealed but still bearings, in an oil environment, engine oil. I'm not an engineer or mechanic but I don't like the idea of a sealed bearing in a liquid. I'm pretty sure its the only one in the whole engine. Most other things around this bearing are journal bearings, similar to The IMS Solution. Its just smooth steel and oil, if the oil stops flowing .... well the rest of the engine is also toasted, not because of the IMS Solution.

I was a few months to early for the IMS Solution and many miles away from an authorized installer.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

so why do the former? does this special shaft prevent other types of failure?

As PJQ mentioned, the triple bearing shaft existed prior to the "Solution" and had proven to be very strong. These were being used, albeit in small numbers, by those that were doing a total rebuild and wanted the best available. The triple row shaft also has pinned end sprockets, which eliminate any chance of the sprocket coming loose or moving, which does happen from time to time and cannot be addressed with the shaft in the motor during a retrofit. While Jake developed and perfected his "Solution" system, the existing dual row LN ceramics were proving to be pretty bullet proof, so he only designed the Solution for the single row engines, which were always the most problematic of the bunch. The Solution also addressed the concerns over having to replace the single row ceramic bearings periodically, but does it at a higher price tag. the triple row shaft can also be used in any M96/97 engine, regardless of what style it came with, because the triple is a compete shaft and bearing assembly; and by 2005-2006, the only replacement shaft (if you needed one) that you could get from Porsche was their "final solution" big bearing shaft, which has proved to be susceptible to the same style of failure as the units it replaced.